FORMER Ashford student Sam Pepper was booted off Big Brother on Friday, despite being one of the favourites to win the show.

The 21-year-old "graffiti artist" was evicted with 14.6 per cent of the public vote, four days before the final.

Mr Pepper spent 21 days in the house and, in spite of the mixed reception he met when he entered, had been earmarked by bookmakers as second favourite to scoop the £100,000 prize.

Since leaving the house, he has set up a Twitter account, which attracted 35,000 followers, including England footballer Rio Ferdinand, in the first 48 hours.

The flood of interest prompted Mr Pepper to tweet: "Are you sure you guys have the right page?"

The former Hythe resident's exit was part of a cull, in which four housemates were given the boot on Friday night.

Speaking on the live show, Mr Pepper said it was "really impressive" to be fancied by the bookies and told Davina McCall that he had enjoyed winding his fellow housemates up.

Mr Pepper, who lives with his grandparents, describes himself on Facebook as a "wicked cool person" who supports the Monster Raving Loony Party.

He was on the Gifted and Talented scheme at Pent Valley, won the school's student of the year award for art and design and also scooped the South Kent College Christmas-card competition in 2007.

After leaving Pent Valley, he studied a National Diploma in photography for two years at the Ashford School of Art & Design, leaving in July 2007. Speaking as Mr Pepper entered the house, learning manager Chris Oliver called him "a very talented and enthusiastic student" who would relish the limelight.

The series, which producers say is the last, finished on Tuesday. It was won by Josie Gibson.